Universität Hamburg’s Goals and Measures for the Excellence Strategy
As Universität Hamburg implements its Excellence application, it pursues 5 goals. These are based on the performance areas set forth by the German Council of Science and Humanities: research, research-oriented teaching, transfer, research infrastructure, and—specific to Universität Hamburg’s application in the Excellence Strategy—internationalization. Each performance areas contains 24 measures for which Universität Hamburg was granted funding in the Excellence Strategy. We will use the funds to implement these measures in the upcoming 7 years.
Councils
Following our Excellence Strategy, we will establish advisory groups (“councils”) for the 5 performance areas of the University: research, teaching, transfer, research infrastructure and internationalization. An additional council will be established for general topics that do not fall within the scope of any one performance area (Excellence Advisory Board). These advisory groups are intended to support University leadership in evaluating and advancing the measures of the Excellence Strategy. Internal and external persons have been appointed to all councils. Meetings will normally be held up to twice a year.
Members of the University’s Research Committee
- Dr. Dr. h.c. Leena Bruckner-Tuderman, medical director of the Department of Dermatology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
- Dr. Ralph Eichler, president of ETH Zurich, 2007–2015, ETH Zurich
- Dr. Anita Engels, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Michael Friedrich, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Christian Gerloff, Department of Neurology, the UKE, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Dr. Dr. Klaus J. Hopt, former director of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, Hamburg
- Dr. Otfried Jarren, University of Zurich
- Dr. Kristian Kersting, Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Dr. Erika Kothe, chair of the University consortium UniWiND, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen, president, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Jan Louis, vice president for research, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Chris Meier, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Peter Schleper, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Luise Schorn-Schütte, vice president of the German Research Foundation, 2004–2010, Goethe University Frankfurt, Main
- Dr. Winfried Schulze, chair of the German Council of Science and Humanities, 1998–2001, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Dr. Jonas Schreyögg, Universität Hamburg
- Dr. Klaus Sengstock, Universität Hamburg
Members of the Internationalization Committee
- Dr. Hans-Dieter Daniel, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich
- Jodien Houwers, MA, senior policy advisor for international cooperation, University of Groningen
- Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen, president, Universität Hamburg
- Stefan Mehlich, head of the Department of Sponsorship and Network, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Uwe Muuss, head of the International Office, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
- Joern Pütz, vice president of German-French Relations, vice president of research at Eucor—The European Campus
- Dorothea Rüland, secretary general, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
- Dr. Sylvia Schwaag-Server, vice president, Lund University
- Marijke Wahlers, head of the international affairs working group, German Rectors' Conference (HRK)
- Dr. Ingenuin Gasser, Universität Hamburg
Research
Facilitating world-class research through dedicated funding programs to make Universität Hamburg an attractive employer for academics while reinforcing its international standing. The individual measures aim to advance existing core research areas, emerging fields that are on the verge of becoming core research areas, and profile initiatives in need of support.
Fast-track program
The University plans to set up a fast-track program that will allow outstanding students with an early aptitude for academic work access a doctoral program sooner.
Postdoctoral fellowships
This funding scheme is intended to enable highly qualified early-career researchers from Germany and abroad to take the next step in their career, i.e., be appointed to a junior professorship, W2 professorship, or the leadership of a junior research group, by allowing them to manage a research project independently.
Funding recipients may choose their research question freely. With this “open-topic model,” the University aims to highlight the potential of interdisciplinary discourse for research and teaching.
Nucleus professorships in emerging fields
Nucleus professorships play an essential role in strengthening emerging fields. The University anticipates that appointment of high-profile, leading researchers will stimulate the development of these emerging fields. In addition to the increased research expertise, the new professors are expected to vitalize research-based teaching at Universität Hamburg.
Open-topic professorships in profile initiatives
In order to develop the profile initiatives into emerging fields, three professorships will be appointed without a pre-defined designation.
Ideas and Venture Fund
The program is designed to provide fast, straight-forward funding to preparatory research projects. The funds are available for use as seed financing by projects preparing a third-party funding application. Its purpose is to advance the role of Universität Hamburg as a leading university. One third of the funding amount is reserved to support early career researchers. The first 2 application rounds have already concluded. More information about the Ideas and Venture Fund is available from the Staff Service Portal. Details on the third application round will be published in the autumn of 2020.
Strengthening regional research cooperation
The Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research (PIER), a collaborative endeavor between Universität Hamburg and DESY, has been expanded to include 16 members. PIER strengthens existing research partnerships in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and initiates new collaborative formats.
It also stimulates cooperation within the Association of North German Universities. The program further provides seed financing to support innovative, collaborative research projects that are still in their infancy.
Teaching
The Studium generale and a new degree program in the liberal arts aim to give students access to research-based teaching and multidimensional education.
Support for student research groups
Selected student research groups are to receive ExStra funding for their projects. This is expected to make the University a more attractive research location and introduce young students to top-level research. The first funding round of the Excellence Strategy will start in Winter Semester 2020/21; applications are set to open in Summer Semester 2020.
Visiting scholars for the Studium generale
A portion of the funds from the Excellence Strategy will be set aside to invite outstanding visiting scholars, e.g., from strategic partner universities, to Universität Hamburg for 1 semester each. They will offer courses within the interdisciplinary Studium generale.
Establishment of a degree program in the liberal arts:
The University will offer a new, world-class liberal arts program. Its structure will follow the Dutch model of an 8-semester bachelor’s degree program. While the program will take advantage of existing top-level courses, there will also be funding for new, external resources. The University has submitted applications for a range of projects:
- Establishing 2 professorships in the liberal arts
- Attracting outstanding visiting scholars to Universität Hamburg
- Providing funds for coordinating the new degree program
Transfer
The University plans to stimulate knowledge transfer by leveraging synergies in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and implementing innovative processes that facilitate top-level research.
Professorship for Innovation Research
The University will establish a Professorship for Innovation Research in order to deepen understanding of the innovation processes that take place between society and academia, taking into consideration the transfer and collaboration processes of a Flagship University, in particular. The new professorship will also strengthen the University’s capacity for innovation. It will involve an element of collaboration with network partners in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and integration into (inter)national research and knowledge transfer associations. The professorship will also underpin the establishment of a master’s degree program in innovation, cooperation and transfer.
Public Understanding of Science and Humanities (PUSH) Team
The new PUSH Team in the Department of Communications and Public Relations will consolidate and improve the organization of existing academic events in order to professionalize the involved processes further. It will plan new academic events on current social issues in collaboration with partners from the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and strengthen the University’s public relations.
Transfer agency
The University is planning to establish a “transfer agency” (working title) to support its knowledge transfer activities in terms of innovation processes, opportunities for collaboration, and transfer-oriented services. It intends to forge close, systematic partnerships with regional transfer partners. The transfer agency will consolidate a number of existing opportunities and services.
Funding for transfer projects
Once the transfer agency has been established, the University will make funding available for transfer activities and publish a corresponding call for applications.
Research infrastructure
Cutting-edge infrastructure will be set up to facilitate top-level research.
- Core facility platforms
- IT and digitalization platform
Internationalization
The University aims to offer outstandingly attractive working conditions to attract top international researchers to Hamburg.
Advanced fellowships
The Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS) will be accepting applications for ExStra-funded fellowships for outstanding visiting scholars as of Winter Semester 2020/21.
Strategic networks
The University will focus on identifying and establishing multilateral, thematic projects in research and teaching in order to intensify and expand collaboration within its strategic partner network. Funding of match-making workshops and exchange projects will support this endeavor. The partnerships thus forged will help attract outstanding international researchers to the University from abroad.
International strategy conferences
Some of the funding will be used to advance the University’s international strategy conferences. New conference formats will be established, and the 3 successfully trialled conference formats (Global University Leaders’ Council, Hamburger Horizonte, Vigoni Symposium of Science and Politics) will be made permanent.
Scholarships for students going abroad
Funding is to be made available for use as scholarships and grants for students to study abroad, providing them with a financial incentive to study outside of Germany and support their stay as a doctoral researcher at a foreign top-level university. As of 15 November, doctoral researchers can use the online portal to apply. Please take note of the relevant prerequisites.
